Newer Tendencies. Novije tendencije

Kate Sutton und Maja MarkovićCroatian Contemorary Art in Zagreb

This is a guide to Zagreb's contemporary art scene, which highlights some of the leading institutions and key figures, but also artists to watch and often overlooked points of interest that help contribute to the city’s character.

“Understanding Zagreb and its art history is the critical first step to grasping the Croatian contemporary art world as a whole. It was in Zagreb where Julije Knifer, a member of good-time Conceptualists, the Gorgona Group, would literally give shape to the Museum of Cotemporary Art. It was in Zagreb, where Sanja Iveković staged her seminal piece “Triangle” (1979), a symbol of resistance and defiance to cultural authority. The limitations of the city’s existing cultural infrastructure inspired self-organised artist’s spaces, like Galerija Nova. This spirit of self-organisation was not limited only to the art world proper: the design collective NUMEN/For Use evolved out of the need to rebuild the country’s industrial aesthetic, while initiatives like the Croatian Design Superstore seek to showcase the creative energies of young designers and innovators”.(Kate Sutton)